Zaha Hadid Architects have been selected to work alongsideAECOM for the design and construction the Al Wakrah Stadium and Precinct of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. The 45,000-seat stadium will be nestled within a rich cultural fabric of traditional Islamic architecture, historical buildings, distinctive mosques and archeological sites that belongs to one of the oldest inhabited areas of Qatar, just south of Doha. As noted by the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, embracing the identify of this cultural heritage will be a crucial part to the success of the stadium.

The design will respond to the consistently hot temperatures of the region by integrating cooling-technology systems with climate-control requirements for renewable energy production.

In addition to the stadium, programs will include an aquatics center and other sporting facilities, along with a spa and commercial space. Once the games concluded, the modular second tier of the stadium will be removed to reduce the stadiums capacity to permenant 20,000.

“We are delighted to be involved with the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ program and to support the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee,” said AECOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John M. Dionisio. “This is an exciting time for Qatar, and our global team of forward-thinking sports experts is well equipped to meet the challenges that a project of this caliber demands.”